Zoo Atlanta to end panda cam, cites economy

Just days after naming its new panda star, Zoo Atlanta says it plans to discontinue its popular panda cam.

“While PandaCam has been a favorite stop on zooatlanta.org for more than a decade, Zoo Atlanta has announced that this feature will soon come to an end,” the attraction said in a release. “Due to limited resources, PandaCam will not be available after Dec. 31, 2008.”

The zoo had been running the cam almost non-stop just days before and during the months after the birth Aug. 30 of Xi Lan, Atlanta’s newest favorite son. Several Web sites, including ajc.com, linked to the site as Xi Lan’s birth neared.

Xi Lan received his name Monday in a ceremony that included singing, a Chinese dragon dance and speeches by zoo, state and Chinese officials. The naming came 100 days after his birth, a Chinese tradition.

Xi Lan is the second panda born to Lung Lung and Yang Yang. Mei Lan, their first cub, was born in September 2006.

Keisha Hines-Davis, a spokeswoman for the zoo, said the attraction is pleased that fans love the cam, but said that like all organizations during this recession, belt tightening has become necessary.

“We’ll still offer photos and videos and updates on our pandas,” she said.

The cam will continue to be available for the rest of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.